Closure for laundry-machine drums and the like



o. -R. GAssNER CLOSURE FQR'V LAUNDRY MACHINE DRUMS AND THE LIKE F'ild- Jan.. 19, 1924 Fgl Dec. 23, 1924.. 1,520,234

M p 41W Patented Dec. 23, 1924.

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OTTO R. GASSNER, OF LOUIS, MISSOURI.

CLOSURE FOR LAUNDRY-MACHINE DRUMS .AND THE LIKE.

Application filed January 19, 1924. Serial No. 687,219.

St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented the new and useful Improvement in Closures for Laundry-Machine Drums and the like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to closures, and more particularly to closures adapted for laundry machine drums.

A laundry machine drum is usually pro vided with a hinged door which is secured by one or more bolts engaging keepers at the ends of the drum. The hinge, which is usually a strap hinge extending circumferentially of the door, has an overhanging part which engages the drum body in order to provide a stop. Since, however, laundry machine drums are usually made of wood, and since this wood is subjected to hot water, a certain amount of expansion takes place which will vary the adjustable relation between the bolts and their keepers, so that the door may either iit too loose or too tight, depending upon the construction and arrangement and the expansion and swelling of the parts.

One of the objects of this invention, therefore, is to provide a closure which is so constructed that it can be adjusted to suit the varying conditions of its designed use.

Another object is to provide a device of the character described which is simple in construction, can be readily adjusted and economical to manufacture.

Further objects will appear from the detail description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure l is a View of a part of a laundry drum showing the device embodying this invention;

Figure 2 is a somewhat enlarged detail section on line 2-2, Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a section on line 3 3, Figure 2.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, 1 designates the body of a laundry drum which usually is of wood, consisting of a series of slats connecting ends 20. This drum is provided with a door 2 which is hinged to the drum by a strap-hinge, one element of which' is shown at 3 and the other at il. The hinge itself has an overhanging part 5 which engaging the body of the drum forms a stop. Each end of the drum has a strapv or ring 6 extending therearound and which forms a keeper for a closure hereinafter to be described.

The closure comprises a bolt 7 which shown is beveled so as to snap Linder the ring or strap 6. This bolt is normally pressed to closed position by a spring 8 on a reduced part 21 of the bolt and bearing at one end against the bolt and at the other end against a guide 22 on the door. This bolt 65 is also guided for ino-vement on the strap hinge or base a in a manner now to be described.

The strap hinge 4L is of the channel type and has side flanges 9 which are, however, 70

cut away where the bolt crosses the same and a short distance on each side of the bolt to permit entrance of a guide as hereinafter described. The web of this base or strap hinge has an inclined portion 10 which is 75 arranged to cooperate with a wedge 11 sliding thereon. Mounted on the wedge is a guide 12 for the bolt which has end lugs 13 of smaller width than the guide, the body of the guide extending even with the outer side faces of the flanges 9. The lugs 13 are perforated in order to be received by screws 14 which serve to hold the strap-hinge to the slats of the door and the whole is secured together by nuts 15. It will also be noted that the wedge 11 is slotted as shown at 16 so as to receive the shanks of the screws 14. The bolt may, of course, be provided with a suitable lug 23 to permit its manipulation.

It will be seen that when the parts are assembled, as shown a rm structure is provided, the bolt sliding on and being guided on the adjusting element or wedge 11 on which is mounted the guide 12 for the bolt,

the guide as well as the wedge being locked in position by means of the screws 141 and their nuts 15. In order, however, to take up for wear, it is only necessary to loosen the nuts 15 and by then tapping on the wedge 11, the top face of the wedge 11 can be raised and lowered together with the guide 12 so as to raise and lower the bolt with respect to its keeper 6. When a desired adjustment has been obtained, the parts can be securely locked in position by again tightening the nuts 15. It will be understood that the guide 22 is suitably elongated vertically so as to permit the adjustment of the bolt, it being noted that this play need only be slight. Accordingly the closure may be adjusted to suit the conditions encountered.

While the device is particularly applicable as a closure for laundry machine drums, it Will be understood that it is not limited to that particular application, but that its application may be general. It is also obvious that various changes may be made in details of construction Without departing from the spirit of this invention; it is, therefore, to be understood that this invent-ion is not to be limited' to the specific details shown and described.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

l.- A device of the character described comprising, a base, a guide thereon, a bolt movable in said guide, and means for ad justing said guide upon said base.

2. A device of the character described comprising, a base, a guide thereon, a bolt movable in said guide, and a sub-base for said guide and mounted for adjustment on said base.

3. A device of the charac er described comprising, a base, a guide thereon, a bolt movable in said guide, and means for adjusting said bolt towards and from said guide.

4'. A device of the character described (,ioinprising, a base, a guide thereon, a bolt movable in said guide, and an adjusting element between said guide and said base.

5; A device of the character described comprising, a. base, al guide thereon, a bolt movable in said guide, and a wedge mounted for adjustment between said guide and said base.

6. A device of the character described comprising, a base, an element mounted for adjustment thereon, and a bolt guided `for movement on said4 element.

7. A device of the character described comprising, a base, a wedge mounted for ad justment thereon, and a bolt guided for movement on said Wedge.

8. A device of the character described comprising',- a strap hinge, ak guide thereon, a: bolt movable in said gluid`e,and means for adjusting said guide.

9. A device of the character described comprising, a strap hinge having an over hanging part adapted to form a stop, a guide on said hinge, a bolt movable in said guide, and meansl for adjusting said guide.

l0. Adevice of the character described comprising, a strap hinge, a guide thereon, ay bol 1i`ovable in said guide, and an adjustabl lement between said hinge and said ,vicef'of the character described comprising, aystraphinge, a guidethereon, a bolt movablein said `guida-an adjustable element between said-hinge. and said guide` and hinge attachingmeans it'or securing said element.

In testimony whereof I allix my signature this 12th day of January, 1924.

OTTO R. GASSNER. 

